The Fruit & Root Crew are on a mission to uncover some of the stories behind the hero seasonal food we eat – from juicy fruits to veggies with va va voom!

It’s February, it can be a bit chilly… perhaps with a sprinkle of snow.

So who’s this month’s munch? What do you think it is – fruit or veg? Only one way to find out!

Let’s Spin the Peel of Fortune!

So this month’s hero is a veggie – the one and only… Carrot!

Sweet, colourful and totally snackable, carrots are one of the UK’s favourite veggies. And they’re not just for bunnies! So what do we know about the clever carrot?

“VEGGIE SUPERSTARS!”

Carrots started out in Central Asia, over 5,000 years ago – but they weren’t always orange! The first carrots were purple, yellow, red or white. Orange carrots only showed up in the 17th century, thanks to clever Dutch growers. Some say the orange variety was a tribute to William of Orange – but others think it just tasted better!

Alright, buckle up – it’s time for Crazy Carrot Corner! In Elizabethan England, people didn’t just eat carrots, they used the feathery tops to decorate their clothes and hats. Imagine turning up to school with a carrot crown! Fancy dress… salad-style.

Did you know the world’s longest carrot was grown in Nottinghamshire in 2007 – it measured over 5.8 metres, whilst the heaviest weighed 9 kgs!

Here’s a science-y fact. Carrot seeds are TINY – like, really tiny. You can fit 2,000 seeds on a teaspoon! And it takes over 22 billion seeds a year to grow all our British carrots!

Talking of growing… British farmers grow over 700,000 tonnes of carrots every year – that’s enough for 100 carrots per person!

And let’s not forget – carrots are super healthy! Packed with beta-carotene that’s what makes them orange, which turns into vitamin A – great for your eyes, skin, and immune system. So perhaps the old wives tale is true that they really do help you see in the dark!

Let’s find out how this staple of our diets is grown… down on the farm.

MEET THE FARMER… DOWN ON THE FARM!

In the early season, we sow the seeds under fleece or plastic covers to keep them warm. Later on, we grow green-top carrots in open ground, and strawed carrots over winter – we cover them with straw to protect them from frost.

They grow best in sandy, well-drained soil, and we use clever machines to drill seeds in neat rows. We also use cover crops like barley or mustard to stop the soil from blowing away in the wind.
Carrots need lots of water, so we use irrigation systems and check the soil carefully. And when harvest time comes, we use top-lifting machines that gently grab the carrots by their leaves and lift them from the ground.

We even wash, sort, and pack the carrots right on the farm – so they stay fresh and tasty when they reach your dinner plate!

And talking of dinner…

“GET IN MA BELLY!”

Carrots are super versatile – sweet or savoury, cooked or raw, they do it all. Try these…

Carrot Mac & Cheese – sneak some into your sauce for extra veg power.

Or what about carrot flapjacks, sweet, chewy, and packed with goodness.

Keep it simple with carrot sticks and hummus… the perfect lunchbox snack.

Or fancy Butter Steamed Carrots with Toasted Cumin?

And then of course there’s… carrot cake – with icing on top, please!

You can also mash them, roast them, stir-fry them, boil them, or pop them in a stew.

Carrots go with everything.

Click here to find some juicy recipes

And remember to collect the Crew’s activity sheets

THE MORRISONS FRUIT & ROOT CREW – EXPLORING OUR SEASONAL FRUIT AND VEG
FIND OUT MORE AT MORRISONS.COM